Building structure



March 21, 1939. P RUTTEN AL 2,151,234

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. RUTT'EN ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zia Avwrweysi NETE STATES use sunscreen Peter some and "warm mam, 1

Application June 25, 1926, Serial No. cuss 14 Claims. (circa-s2 This invention, while it relates particularly to roofs for silos, tanks, barns and other buildings, also has application to walls partitions and panels of many different types. 7

It is the general object of the invention to provide a novel and improved building structure which is particularly applicable to be used as a.

roof for a silo or the like, and which can be erected with great ease'and with little expense to efiectively form a. water proof closure having great strength and rigidity.

A further object is to provide a roof or walllike structure including ribs in the nature of rafters or studs and spanner sheets disposed between and bridging the space between adjacent ribs, there being provision made for permitting variance inthe space between adjacent ribs as the structure is being erected to meet the requirements of the silo or other building in connection with which the structure of the invention is used.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved silo roof of light, strong and cheap construction which although constructed of building units of a standard type, as the root is erected, can be adjusted to fit the particular silo in connection with which it is used in case the silo should be somewhat out of round, or in case there should be some variance from normal in the size oi the upper portion of the silo to which the roof is applied.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein a. silo root embodying the invention is first illustrated and wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the upper portion of a silo with a roof embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the silo roof on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l. as indicated by the arrows;

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a verticalv section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6, of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation on a reduced scale clone of the ribs shown in Figs. 1 to 6;

5 Fig. 10 is a view in iront'elevation illustrating a portion of a wall that may be constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating one of the ribs that may be used in the wall shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustratiw one of the spanner sheets that may be used in the wall shown in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating one of the clamping bars that may be mil in the wall shown in Fig. 10.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 1 to 9 of the drawings, portions of a silo are shown including a circular wail i4 formed by a multiplicity of stoves, a chute i5 and hoop i6 encircling the upper part of the wall l4 immediately below the upper edge thereof, the ends of the hoop being carried through a block H and having nuts it attached thereto a which bear against the ends of the block to tight en the hoop.

The silo roof is formed by connecting together a number oi separam structural units, these units including long ribs it having the function of studs or rafters, spanner sheets 2i? and Eli respectively, and clamping bars 22.

The ribs it for use in producing the curved roof shown are of arcuate construction and the lower ends of these ribs are located in circurniere'ntially spaced relation at the outer side of the silo wall just below the top thereof. The upper ends of these ribs are secured to a ring 23 which forms an opening at the top of the silo roof. Ribs it are of channel-shape in cross section.

Each spanner sheet 25 is equipped with out' tothe ribs that the flanges Eta are received within the channels of the ribs. Preferably only one or at the most two of the spanner sheets M will be used in the erection of an ordinary silo roof, although of course it will be possible to use the spanner sheets 2| to the exclusion of the spanner sheets 20 and in substitution therefor in erecting the roof. Ininany instances, when the spanner sheets 20 are used, it will be unnecessary to use any of the spanner sheets 2|. Spanner sheets 2|, like the spanner sheets 20, are made of light gauge material and taper from their lower ends upwardly. The sheets 2| are preferably of somewhat greater width than the spanner sheets 20 and unlike the sheets 20 they are equipped with side flanges 2|1a at one edge only. As best illustrated in Fig. 4, a spanner sheet 2| when used is located to span the space between a pair of adjacent ribs IS in such manner that the flange 2| (1 of the sheet is received within the channel of one of the ribs l9, while the opposite edge portion of the spanner sheet completely overlaps the adjacent rib l9 to be received immediately below a portion of the next adjacent spanner sheet 20 or 2| as the case may be.

The clamping bars 22 are of substantially W- shape in cross section so as to each form a pair of adjacent channels of V-shape in cross section on their outer surfaces and to form on their lower surfaces a central channel of inverted V-shape. The bars 22 are of the same length as are the ribs l9 and like the ribs they are made of arcuate formation as shown in Fig. 9, for use in a round roof such as that shown in Fig. 1. The clamping bars 22 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are located during assembly of the roof structure immediately below the various ribs l9, so that the edges of the clamping bars have bearing against the spanner sheets underlying the ribs i9.

To secure the ribs I9, spanner sheets 26 and clamping bars 22 in assembled relation or alternatively to hold the ribs l9, spanner sheets 2|, and clamping bars 22 in assembled relation, nutted bolts 24 are used, these nutted bolts passing through punched bolt receiving openings in the ribs l9 and clamping bars 22 and when spanner sheets 2| are used, these bolts also passing through bolt openings formed in the sheets 2| at the time that the roof is being erected. The bolts 24 tightly clamp the parts together, preferably the heads of the bolts bearing against the ribs l9 and the nuts of the bolts being received within the inverted V-shaped channels formed at the inner sides of the clamping bars 22, these channels preventing rotation of the nuts of the bolts as the bolts are tightened against their nuts.

silo l4, straps 25 may be employed. These straps have their upper portions received within the channels at the lower ends of the ribs I9 and their upper portions are equipped with elongated slots 25a. to receive the lowermost clamping bolts 24 therethrough, as well as to receive securing bolts 26 therethrough, and at the same time to permit of the projection of the straps 25 to greater or lesser distances below the lower ends of the ribs l9. Each strap 25 near its lower end is equipped with a pair of openings to receive the shank and end portion of a hook 21 which engages the silo hoop l6. Nuts 28 mounted on the shanks of these hooks are used for drawing up the hooks against the hoop Hi to tightly secure the straps 25 to the hoop and thereby form anchorage for the roof structure to the top of the silo. Of course, it will be understood that the straps 25 may be attached to the top of the silo in any other suitable manner.

By provision of the slotted construction of the straps 25, the bottom of the roof structure may be properly leveled relative to the top of the silo conveniently.

In the form shown, the ring 23 is made adjustable to permit some variation in the circumference of the ring. The ring 23 is illustrated as being of angular shape in cross section and it is formed from a single piece of metal having its ends connected by a nutted bolt 29. To permit of adjustment several bolt receiving openings 230. are provided adjacent the ends of the ring;

In place of using one of the spanner sheets 20 or 2| between the two ribs l9, adjacent the chute I5, a dormer 30 is employed, this dormer being best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. The lower part of the dormer 3t overlies the top portion of the chute I5 and the edges of the dormer are equipped with outturned flanges 30a which are received within the channels of the ribs |9 and have the same functional purpose as do the flanges 20a of the spanner sheets 20.

The upper ends of the ribs l9, spanner sheets 20 and 2| and clamping bars 22 are secured to a horizontal flange of the ring 23 by means of nutted bolts 3|. To close the opening formed by the ring 23 at the top of the silo roof, a hood 32 is provided. This hood has a lower imperforate section 32a of truncated conical shape and attached to the lower imperforate section is an upper conical section 32b formed of celloglass which while shedding rain, permits light to penetrate into the silo as through a window. The celloglass section 3222' consists of screening treated with a cellulose product through which light may penetrate, the screening being formed in the shape of a cone. The hood 32 is removably secured to the ring 23 by means of angular brackets 33 attached to the inner side of the lower hood section 32a and having cam surfaces which engage projecting pins 34 carried by the ring 23. In other words, in apply ing the hood to the ring 23, the brackets 33 are engaged below the pins 34 and the entire hood is then given a slight turn in a clockwise direction as viewed from the top of the silo, and the pins 34 riding upwardly on the cam surfaces of the brackets tightly draw the hood down in place on the top of the silo roof.

In order to form a ladder for easy access to the top of the roof structure, a number of cross cleats 35 may be secured between a pair of adjacent I ribs l9.

The channel formed in each rib l9 is of course considerably wider than the space occupied by the flange 20a of a spanner sheet 20, as best shown in To anchor and secure the roof to the top of the Fig. 3, and in fact the spacing between the securing bolts 24 and the side flanges of the ribs I9 is considerably greater than the thickness of a flange 20a of a spanner sheet 20. Accordingly, during the course of the'erectionpf the roof and prior to the time that the nutted bolts I9 are tightened,

adjustment of the circumference of the roof is permitted within limits so as to adapt the roof to the top of a particularsilo on which it is being erected. The spacing between adjacent ribs l9 can be varied within limits prior to the time that the bolts 24 are tightened, so as to give the roof somewhat greater or somewhat less circumference at its bottom. Thus if the silo is somewhat out of round, as is generally the case, or ifthe silo is of slightly larger or slightly smaller size at'its upper end than standard, the roof can be adjusted to fit the particular silo during erection of the roof without necessitating the use of ribs l9 and spanner sheets 20 of other than standard size. If it is found, for example, that the circumference of the onenesstop or the silo is slightly smaller than usual, several or any number of adjacent ribs it may be spaced center to center somewhat closer than usual by merely locating the flanges a oi the spanner sheets 2! more closely to the bolts 26 at the time that the bolts 24 are tightened up. On the other hand i! it isiound necessary to increase the circumference of the roof somewhat beyond the normal circumference, this csh readily be done during the course of erection by merely locating the es 20a of several or o. number of the spanner sheets 29 closely adjacent the side flanges or the ribs that cooperate with these spanner sheets. This ible and contractable feature of the present construction without necessitating change in the type or size of the water will drain into the upper various construction units used is one of the most important features of the present invention.

Iiitshouldbeioundthst 0 Hz the circumference of the bottom of the roof is required, beyond the limits permitted by use of the spanner sheets II alone in conjunction with the ribs it, one or more of the spanner sheets it may be substituted for a like number of the spanr ner sheets 2D. When a. spanner sheet ll is emplayed, wide adjustment between adjacent ribs is tted uch as the non-tr 1: 1r portions of the'spenner sheet 2i employed as best shown in Fig. 4, may overlap the next adjacent or sheet 29 or ii to practically any cl et. w

It will be seen that the various building units we employ when assembled together as described, form an extremely light, strong, roof structure. e channel-shaped ribs it give t strh and rigidity to the roof, while the bars 22 iurther strengthen .the same. The side .ges 26a. oi the spanner sheets 28 and the side flanges tin of the spanner sheets it give strength to the various spanner sheets. The straps 2% permit the roof to be securely anchored to the top of the silo after the bottom of the roof has been properly leveled The bolts 28 and the lowermost bolt 24 cooperating with the ilsnges 20a oi the er sheets and the side n w of the ribs l9 form efiective barriers to prevent the entrance of birds to the silo ough the lower ends of the chsn- I nels of the ribs 89. The vertical of the ring 23 rating with the nose or effectively prevents entry of the birds into the silo at the thereof.

f ch o w el-shaped ribs it afford a water shed between adjacent spanner sheets so as to effectively prevent the entrance of rain water to the silo. If there should be any 1 i e of water through the various bolt holes in the ribs it, this i. :1 ll it; Of the hers 22 and drain out through the lower ends of these 1 1 els;

The hood t2 may be readily removed ior filling the silo and the ring 23 forms a. mouth of large diameter through which material may be led into the silo. As there are no internal braces which occupy specs within the roof structure, it is possible to utilize the roof as part of the silo itseli so that the silo can be filled way up to the ring 23. The opening in the ring 28 is suiiiciently.

shown in Figs. 10, i 12 and: 1a, in m 10 there expansion of isillustrstedsportionorswsllbuilttmits 38, 31 and 38 oi analogous ction to the units iii, 10 and 22 respectively, oi the ously described constmction. The rib 8B which in reslity forms the stud of the shown in his. 10 is of exactly similar construction to the rib it previously described with the exception that rib 36 is straight instead of being of srcunte curve.- ture. The spanner sheet it having nee 3 :11 llc is similar to the warmer sheet 28 oi the pre vicusly described coon with the exception that w:- w. sheet 37 is of uniform width of beingtspered. Theclemn 15m" bar the previously described construction with the em ception that clping bar 88 is straight instead viously described construction by nutted bolts 3% end the said units B8, 3? and ht will form n straight wall inaaesd of a. curved ll. In horizontal cross section the wall shown in Fig. it will appear exactly as shown in Fig. 3. The benefits and advantages of the construction shown in Fig. it will be apparent from the 2. oi the roof previously described.

It will be understood that the Jr-w units of the present invention can be 1- bled together to form. root's, closures, itlon wells, building walls end other building construction of sunny different t.

it will, of course, be umlemtood that various changes may he made in the form, details, err-tw ement and proportions of the vnrioin orn without dew I from the scope oi the present, invention, w ch, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended cls.

is claimed is: I

I l. A silo structure and the like comprising .a plurality of ribs of channel-shone in cross section,

means for anchoring the lower ends of sold ribs in spaced relation, means for anchoring the upper ends oi sold ribs in spaced relation, e. plurality of spanner sheets extending between sdiecent ribs, each spur sheet hating at least one male fienge reieived wit the chnnnel of one oftlie ribs and said side flange being of such sine l'812ttive to the channel as to permit positively limited lateral movement of the spanner sheet relative to the ribs as the building structure is being erected, and clamping means for weaning snld spenner sheets to said ribs'to hold them against move-- ment otter erection.

2. A silo or similnr building structure comprisins a. plurality oi curved ribs of channel-shape in cross section, means for nnchoring the lower ends of sold ribs in spmed relation, menus for anchoring the upper ends oi said ribs in spaced relation, a. plurality of curved spanner sheets extending between adjacent ribs, sold spanner sheets bovine edge gee received within the channels oi the adjzwent ribs and e plurality of clamping means sees the spanner sheets to said ribs, the channels of sold ribs p-ermitting positively limited variable spacing between theribsasthe'b v structureis erected prior to the application of said clamping means,

.said clamping means providing a rigid self-susteining structure after erection. V

3. A sell-sustaining roof for silos and the ilk comprising a. plurality of curved ribs of channelshape in cross section, means for anchoring the lower ends of said ribs to the top of e silo or the eral shifting movement of said spanner sheets relative to said ribs as said roof is erected thereby permitting limited variance in the spacing between adjacent ribs and a plurality of spaced clamping means for clamping said spanner sheets and ribs rigidly together.

4. A roof for silos and the like, comprising a plurality of ribs of channel-shape in cross section having their lower ends disposed at spaced points on a curved arc and having their upper ends disposed at spaced points on a variable curved arc, means for anchoring the lower ends of said ribs to the top of a silo or the like in the relation specified, means for securing together the upper ends of said ribs in the relation specified, spanner sheets extending between adjacent ribs, said spanner sheets tapering from their lower ends upwardly, and having outturned side flanges received within the channels of adjacent ribs, the said channels being sufliciently wide to permit relative movement between said side flanges and the ribs during erection and clamping means for tightly securing said spanner sheets and ribs together. I

5. A self-supporting roof for silos and the like' comprising a plurality of ribs of channel-shape in cross section, means for anchoring the lower ends of said ribs in spaced relation, means for connecting the upper ends of said ribs in spaced relation, spanner sheets extending between adjacent ribs, each spanner sheet having at least one outturned side flange received within the channel of one of said ribs, said channels being of such size as to permit positively limited lateral movement of the flanges of said spanner sheets there in during the course of erection, clamping bars underlying said ribs and spanner. sheets, said clamping bars having edges adapted to engage said spanner sheets and a plurality of relatively closely spaced cooperating clamping elements extending between said ribs and said bars to hold the structure rigidly against movement after erection.

6. A roof for silos and the like comprising a plurality of ribs of channel-shape in cross section, means for anchoring the lower ends of said ribs in circumferentially spaced relation, a ring connected to the upper ends of said ribs, spanner sheets extending between adjacent ribs, each spanner sheet having at least one outturned side flange received within the channel of one of said ribs, said channels being of. such size as to permit limited lateral adjusting movement of the 1 flanges of the spanner sheets therein during the course of erection, clamping means securing said spanner sheets and ribs together to prevent move ment after erection, said ring forming an opening at the top of the roof and a hood removably closme said opening.

7. A roof for silos and the like comprising a plurality of ribs of channel-shape in cross section, straps connected to the lower ends of said ribs for adjustable extension therefrom, means for securing said straps to the upper part of a silo, spanner sheets extending between adjacent ribs, each spanner sheet having at least one outturned side flange received within the channel of one of the ribs, said channels being of such size as to permit limited lateral movement of the flanges of the spanner sheets therein during the course of erection and means for clamping said ribs and spanner sheets together.

8. The structure deflnedin claim 6, said ring being adjustable in circumferential size.

9. A silo roof of dome form comprising a su porting frame of dome-like structure made up of a plurality of curved ribs having their lower ends arranged at circumferentially spaced intervals around a circle, said ribs being preformed to a predetermined curvature, the adjacent ribs gradually converging toward their upper ends, a covering for said frame, said covering being composed of a plurality of sections adapted to form segments of the dome, said sections being formed of flat sheets and means for securing the sheets to the frame so that the sheets will assume the curvature of the ribs of the frame, the edges of adjacent sheets being free from each other, said means permitting limited transverse movement of the sheets relative to the frame and to each other. I

l0. A-silo roof of dome form comprising a supporting frame of dome-like structure made up of a plurality of curved ribs having their lower ends arranged at circumferentially spaced intervals around a circle, said ribs being preformed to a predetermined curvature, the adjacent ribs gradually converging towards their upper ends, a covering for said frame, said covering being composed of a plurality of sheet metal sections adapted to form segments of the dome, said sections being formed by flat sheets, and means for securing the sheets to the frame so that the sheets will assume the curvature of the ribs of the frame, the edges of the adjacent sheets being free from each other.

11. A silo roof of dome form comprising a sup porting frame of dome-like'structure, a covering for said frame, said covering being composed of a plurality of sheet metal sections adapted to form segments of the dome, said segments being formed of flat sheets, and means for securing the sheets tothe frame in such a manner that the sheets will assume the curvature of the frame, the edges of adjacent sheets being non-interlocking.

12. A silo roof comprising a supporting frame made up of a plurality of curved ribs arranged to form a dome-like structure, a covering for said frame, said covering being composed of a plurality of segmental sections, each of said sections being made of a flat sheet, said sheets being secured to said frame in such a manner that the edges of the sheets will overlap each other and the sheets will assume the curvature of the ribs of the frame.

13. A self-sustaining roof for silos and the like, comprising a plurality of ribs of channel-shape in cross section, having their lower ends disposed at spaced points on a curved arc, and having their upper ends disposed at spaced points on a curved arc, means for anchoring the lower ends of said ribs to the top of a silo or the like in the relation specified, means for securing together the upper ends of said ribs in the relation specified, spanner sheets extending between adjacent ribs, said spanner sheets tapering from their lower ends upwardly, each spanner sheet having at least one side flange received within a channel of an adjacent rib, the said channels being sufliciently wide to permit relative movement between a side flange received therein and the rib during erection, and

clamping means for tightly securing said spanner sheets and ribs together.

14. A self-sustaining roof for silos and the like comprising a plurality of ribs of channel-shape in cross section, having their lower ends disposed at spaced points on a curved arc and having their upper ends disposed at spaced points on a curved are, means for anchoring the lower ends of said ribs to the top of a silo or the like in the relation specified, means for securing together the upper ends of said ribs in the relation specified, spanner sheets extending between adjacent ribs, said spanner sheets tapering from their lower ends upwardly, at least certain of said spanner sheets having side portions overlapping side portions of adjacent spanner sheets to permit of relative movement between adjacent overlapping sheets and clamping means for tightly securing said spanner sheets and ribs together. 

